Megan Limbach, a military spouse and nursing student, stood in line to donate, because it was a way she could provide help.

“The good in people comes out when disaster happens,” she said. “It restores your faith in humanity.”

Catherine Tharpe, donor recruiter for the center, said it will be open today collecting donations, but since medical centers in West are reporting the demand for blood is met, the donations will go to Robertson’s traditional recipients — service members in Afghanistan and Army medical centers.

“We ask that individuals refrain from coming to Robertson Blood Center in large numbers to ensure there are still eligible donors in the area in the event more blood is requested or another incident requiring blood donations occurs,” said a release on the center’s Facebook page. “Words cannot express how amazing it was to see how many wanted to help.”

Carter BloodCare is also asking donors to consider making future appointments.

Throughout the day Thursday, Tharpe said, the center asked donors with A positive blood to consider donating platelets, instead, because platelets of this blood type can be given to most burn victims, but are only good for five days. Therefore, there will still be a need next week as patients continue to heal.

“We want to utilize their donations as best as possible,” she said.

Raylene Gill set up a table in the blood center’s lobby to accept nonmonetary donations to drive to the Red Cross operating out of Waco’s Extraco Events Center on Thursday evening.

“I teach my kids about everything going on in the world,” she said. “When my daughter heard about the fertilizer plant, she said, ‘How can we help?’”

Gill will be at Robertson today accepting more donations.

Contact Rose L. Thayer at rthayer@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7463. Follow her on Twitter at KDHmilitary.